White House spokesman Josh Earnest told media assembled for a daily press briefing that Donald Trump is unfit to serve as President over his comments about banning Muslims from the United States.

On Monday Trump said that Muslims around the world have a hatred for America and should be stopped from entering the country as immigrants:

"Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life," Trump said in a statement.

Trump made the comment in response to news of the easy entry of San Bernardino terrorist Tashfeen Malik, who entered the country on a fiancee visa before carrying out her bloody attack. With the Republican frontrunner refusing to back down, Earnest said it proves he is unfit to serve.

"What he said is disqualifying, and any Republican who’s too fearful of the Republican base to admit it has no business serving as president either," Earnest said.

The White House hopes to use Trump's comments to sow division among Republicans and on Tuesday many media outlets were happy to help, with plenty of questions being put to other candidates asking if they would denounce Trump.

Unfortunately, the same does not happen when Democratic candidates make comments that Republicans, or average Americans, find controversial or offensive.